Winterize Your Home
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With average summer temperatures of 90°F and a low of 70°, we wear short sleeves for most of the year on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Our winters are short, and our summers are long and warm.
The average winter temperatures are in the 60°F range with a low of 40°F. Occasionally, we get a “hard freeze” warning overnight which is generally canceled once the sun comes up the following morning.
The Elliott Homes team recommends these maintenance and end-of-season tasks when the temperature drops to help winterize your home for protection and energy savings. We have asked our builders to share tips for protecting your home and avoiding unnecessary heat loss and expensive electric bills. See their tips on the following pages.
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Follow these steps to prepare your home for winter:
Seal Cracks Caulking will shrink over time. Refresh the caulk in holes and openings around windows, doors, and any pipes going into the home to help prevent cold air from seeping in. Use a caulk gun to get a clean line and fill any gaps. You can also install weather stripping and seals for an additional heat loss protection method.
Protect the Pipes – Protect pipes by insulating those susceptible to freezing. Insulate your exterior hose bibs with a nylon-insulated fabric faucet sock or hard plastic faucet cover when a hard freeze warning is issued. Insulate pipes around your water heater and place a light under your outdoor kitchen sink to generate heat.
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Programmable Thermostat – If you do not have an energy-efficient or programmable thermostat, install one. Doing so will help you keep warm air in the rooms you use the most without causing a jump in energy bills. If you have a heat pump, maintain a moderate setting or use a programmable thermostat specially designed for heat pumps.
Take Advantage of Heat from the Sun – Open curtains and blinds on south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to heat the home. Close them at night to reduce the cold air coming from the windows. Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that still feel drafty.
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Make it Cozy – When you are asleep or out of the house, turn the thermostat back to save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. Make sure it is still comfortable for pets. When awake, set your thermostat to at least 65°F and throw blankets around for those who get a chill.
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Clean Your Yard & Check Neighbors' Yard –Keep the trees trimmed and remove dead branches and debris from your yard. Ice, snow and wind can weaken trees and cause branches to fall and potentially damage your home, car or people walking near them. Lower Water Heating Costs – Keep the temperature on your water heater at 120°F. This will save energy and also help avoid scalding.
Lower Holiday Lighting Costs Use LED holiday light strings to reduce the cost of decorating the home for the winter holidays. Check manufacturer labels and look for brands of ENERGY STAR® certified decorative light strings.
Maintain Your Heating Systems – Schedule routine service for home heating systems. These should be serviced at least once a year to clear any buildup and to keep them running efficiently. Replace furnace and heat pump filters once a month or as needed.
Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Residential fires are more common in winter, so all your smoke detectors must work. Check them monthly and replace batteries as needed. If you do not have one, consider installing a carbon monoxide detector to avoid inadvertently trapping the toxic gas in your home.
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tip Holiday Traveling
Brandon Elliott, President and Founder of Elliott Homes, adds another tip – If you are going away for the holidays, take extra precautions. Set the thermostat to 60°F. Keep sink cabinets open to allow warmer air to enter. Consider turning the water off completely. Also, have a friend or neighbor check your home regularly for any issues that may arise. If a problem is detected, act quickly to minimize damage to your property.
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want to l e a r n m o r e ?
We hope you utilize our team's tips to protect your home and save on utility bills. If you would like to learn more about one of our energy-efficient, affordable luxury homes, please get in touch with us at 1-844BUY-ELLIOTT.
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